Musician

What you need to know

Overview

Musicians and singers play instruments or sing for live audiences and in recording studios.

What is this career like?

Musicians and singers perform in settings such as concert halls, arenas, and clubs. Musicians and singers who give recitals or perform in nightclubs travel frequently and may tour nationally or internationally. Some spend time in recording studios. There are many jobs in cities that have a high concentration of entertainment activities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Nashville.

Some of the things a musician or singer might do:

Perform music for live audiences and recordings

Audition for positions in orchestras, choruses, bands, and other types of music groups

Practice playing instruments or singing to improve their technique

Rehearse to prepare for performances

Find and book locations for performances or concerts

Travel, sometimes great distances, to performance venues

Promote their careers by maintaining a website or social media presence or by doing photo shoots and interviews

What skills are needed?

Dedication: Auditioning for jobs can be a frustrating process because it may take many different auditions to get hired. Musicians and singers need determination and dedication to continue to audition after receiving many rejections.

Discipline: Talent is not enough for most musicians and singers to find employment in this field. They must constantly practice and rehearse to improve their technique, style, and performance.

Interpersonal skills: Musicians and singers need to work well with a variety of people, such as agents, music producers, conductors, and other musicians. Good people skills are helpful in building good working relationships.

Musical talent: Professional musicians or singers must have superior musical abilities.

Physical stamina: Musicians and singers who play in concerts or in nightclubs, and those who tour, must be able to endure frequent travel and irregular performance schedules.

Promotional skills: Musicians and singers need to promote their performances through local communities, word of mouth, and social media. Good self-promotional skills are helpful in building a fan base.

What is the pay?

The average pay for musicians and singers in the United States ranges from $9.70 per hour to $69.81 per hour.

The specific pay depends on factors such as level of experience, education and training, geographic location, and specific industry.

What is the career outlook?

Employment of musicians and singers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Growth will be due to increases in demand for musical performances. However, there will be tough competition for jobs because of the large number of people who are interested in becoming musicians and singers.

What education is required?

There are no postsecondary education requirements for those interested in performing popular music. Many musicians and singers of classical music and opera have a bachelor’s degree in music theory or performance. To be accepted into one of these programs, applicants are typically required to submit recordings or to audition in person and sometimes must do both.

Undergraduate music programs teach students about music history and styles. In addition, they teach methods for improving instrumental and vocal techniques and musical expression. Undergraduate voice programs also teach courses in diction. Some musicians and singers choose to continue their education by pursuing a master’s degree in fine arts or music.

Discover some of the courses you will take pursuing a degree in Music.